10 Top Tips for Learning English at Home

It is not necessary to reside in an English-speaking nation to learn English. If you're smart about how you study English it doesn't mean you have to leave your home town. Utilize these top 10 tips and discover how you can learn English without ever moving out of your hometown.

Surround yourself with English

There is no need to live located in a country that is English-friendly to be surrounded by English. Find ways to create English part of your daily routine at home, for example, making your shopping list while reading the paper or listening to the radio, writing a journal in English, or even watching English on your mobile when you travel to work.

Make English friends

If you don't live in an English-speaking country, there are still ways to meet native English speakers. You can go to foreign bars and restaurants, join sports and social clubs, or arrange language exchanges. You can even volunteer as a guide at a local tourist attraction to meet English speakers from all over the world.

Find study partners

One of the best ways to learn any new language is to find a study partner or form a club dedicated to practicing that language regularly. This is especially true for English, as speaking with native speakers can help speed up your learning process exponentially. You don't always need native speakers to be able to practice, though. Simply finding someone who is also interested in learning English can be helpful, as you can motivate each other and learn from one another mistakes.

Use authentic materials

Just because you're reading English from a textbook doesn't mean it has to be boring. Instead, try reading English texts that were written by native speakers. At first, it'll be challenging, but it'll become a lot more interesting once you're able to do it. If you can't seem to find any English books or magazines, then use the internet to read the news in English every day. Take a look at EF English Live's free resources and test your skills with our free English quiz. You can also learn with our ebooks and more!

 

Get online

Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with people from all over the globe. You can join chat rooms or forums, take an online English speaking course, or find a pen pal to help you practice your language skills while also learning about different cultures. Staying in touch with friends from all over the world has never been easier.

Set yourself realistic goals

Check-in with yourself and ask why you want to study. Do you want to be able to get a promotion at work? Talk to your foreign colleagues with ease. Study abroad in an English-speaking country? Or spend your next vacation in an English-speaking country without feeling lost? Set some short-term goals, like learning five new words per week, and some long-term goals, like being able to understand a conversation between two native English speakers. And don't forget to celebrate each small victory along the way!

Listen to real English

One way to get better at understanding spoken English is to listen to it being spoken at a normal speed, even if you can't catch everything. Also, try listening without seeing things written down first, and don't hesitate to listen to something multiple times to pick out any interesting or unusual words. You can find plenty of free English podcasts online, and most news organizations from English-speaking countries have audio and video news that you can watch or listen to for free.

Find fun ways to learn new words

If you love belting out tunes in the shower, then one way you can improve your English language skills is by looking up the words to your favorite songs or by joining English speaking course. Another way to better your understanding and recall is by writing down new words on Post-it notes and sticking them up around your living space. Add humorous example sentences or doodle little pictures next to new vocabulary to help make the material more relatable and memorable.

Learn about the culture

English-speaking countries have a lot to offer when it comes to both the people and the culture. If you want to learn the language, it's important to remember that it's not just about grammar and vocabulary. You also need to be able to communicate with people who think and speak differently than you do!

Have fun

Learning a language definitely takes some effort, but you're more likely to keep at it if you're actually having fun. immerse yourself in the language by playing games, doing puzzles, listening to music, reading comics, and don't stress too much over making mistakes. Oftentimes, making slips is the best way to learn!